President Henry B. Eyring * Do not give up trying to be better. * The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and we must expect to become better as long as we live. * We believe that through living the Gospel, we can become perfected like the Savior (although not in this life). * Primary song “I’m trying to be like Jesus” * The greatest joys and sorrows come in the family * Pray for the love that let’s you see the good in your companion * Persist in love. * Family is the testing ground for learning Love * Love is putting others above ourselves. Sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. * A man and a woman are to make sacred covenants that they will put the welfare and happiness of the other at the center of their lives. * Children are to be born into a family where parents hold the needs of the children equal to their own in importance. * Children learn to love parents and each other. * Choices to qualify that there will be no empty chairs in our families in the world to come
Elder L Tom Perry * The pioneers left us a great heritage: learn from the past to help us manage the future * Reference to the Pagent of Manti. Pres Kimball promised a temple on the hill in Manti. * The older temples are built with sacrifice. * Use the lessons from the past to help meet the challenge. * Being baptized means you must teach others * The missionaries MUST teach investigators about the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Bishop H David Burton * Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the Lord * Virtue traits form the foundation of a Christ-like life * “Ity” virtues (charity, chastity, morality, etc) * We need not be part of the virtue malaise * Teaching virtuous traits begins in the home with parents who care and set the example. A good parent example encourages emulation. A poor example give license to disregard and even expand. An hypocritical example destroys credibility. * Integrity is more important than revenge
Sister Ann M Dibb * Focused on the importance of safety. The iron rod brings us safety * Workers two weeks away from completing a yearlong task of painting a bridge when a scaffolding collapsed. * Held on for hours. Thought of their family. * They chose not to use the safety equipment. If they had, tragedy could have been averted. * The rod of iron is our safety equipment. * Invited to reread Lehi’s vision of the iron rod. * If we find ourselves on ‘strange roads’, it is always possible for us to find our way back. * Daughter of President Monson — I’m probably the only Mormon in the world who didn’t know that.
Elder Russell M Nelson * Technology allows us to communicate rapidly. * Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven. Without: hardware, software or monthly service fees. * It’s one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to His children. To access information from Heaven you need: 1. Firm faith and deep desire. 2. Sincere heart and real intent having faith in Jesus Christ. Real intent means that one really intends to follow divine direction given. 3. Study the matter diligently. Study it out in your mind. The ask God if it is right. If it is right, he will cause a burning in your bosom, therefore you shall feel that it is right. 4. Know and obey the teachings of the Lord. * Personal revelation can be honed * Paul wrote: “The natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can they know them because they are spiritually discerned.” * Gift of Discernment is a Spiritual is a supernal gift: it allows members of the Church to see things not visible and to feel things not tangible. Bishops are entitled to this gift to seek out the poor and care for the needy. Sisters may view trends in the world, members can discern between schemes that are flashy and fleeting – and those refinements which are uplifting and enduring. * To receive revaluation unique to our needs and responsibilities: * Patience, perseverance are part of our eternal progression
President Thomas S Monson * Spoke about service — story of Father who asked “What did you do for someone today?” at the dinner table each night. * “Often we live side by side, but do not communicate heart to heart.” * King Benjamen “When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God.” * Savior taught us “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” * He is telling us that unless we lose ourselves for service to others, there’s little purpose to our own lives. * At Baptism – covenanted to bear one another’s burden that they may be light.
